Trap Grounds Allotment Association

Shared Equipment

The Association has a range of equipment available for use by plot-holders.

The equipment is stored in the shed by the Port Meadow gates. Full instruction manuals are also stored there in a folder, with some safety advice. Members wishing to make use of the equipment are asked to ensure they are familiar with the machines, and how to use them safely. We ask you to sign a form, also stored in a folder in the shed, which confirms that you agree to that, and that you take personal responsibility for the safe use of the equipment.

Instruction in the use of the equipment is available from the members listed in the following table.

Picture from allotment library
Woolly Head by Freddie Quartley

Equipment

Machine Notes on use Members who can demonstrate use
Power mowers (Honda) A motor mower with powered wheels. The easiest mower to use - no throttle, no choke, and a fairly light machine. Jonathan Clark
Tony Hollander
Philip James
Chris Jarvis
Neil MacLennan
Meg Movshon
Rob Watson
Michael Wheale
Strimmer / brush cutter (Honda) Fairly powerful petrol strimmer, relatively heavy to use. The best machine for smallish areas of overgrown grass and weeds. Jonathan Clark
Tony Hollander
Philip James
Neil MacLennan
Mantis tiller This small, relatively lightweight petrol powered machine is used to turn over already dug soil, and creates a pretty good fine tilth. Have a look at the manufacturer's web site. Jonathan Clark
Bob Crabtree
Rotavator / cultivator This is a larger, more powerful tiller / cultivator than the Mantis tiller above. It's heavier, and needs more effort, but it can tackle more compacted soil. The ground needs already to have been cleared of weeds, particularly perennials, as otherwise you are just chopping the roots into pieces to make lots more weeds. Jonathan Clark
Tony Hollander
Flail mower This is a slow, powerful machine which will mow quite roughly covered ground. Good for large overgrown areas. Like all the machines, you need to know there are no stones, bricks or netting under the growth you wish to clear. Since it can mow quite rough ground, it may be difficult to see what debris is lying under the weeds. Tony Hollander
Jonathan Clark
Tractor mower Used by the volunteer mowing team who take turns to mow the common areas. If you see the mowing team in operation, you might thank them for what they do. It takes a good three hours to mow all the common areas and paths properly, and we try to do it every week. New volunteers for the mowing team are always welcome. Jonathan Clark
Tony Hollander
Neil MacLennan

Keyholders

Shed keys are available from people listed below. Their plot numbers are listed so you can go looking for whoever is available. There is also a plot schematic to help intrepret the numbering system.

There is a version of this web page stapled to each noticeboard at the allotment site, as well as a (slightly different) schematic of the numbering system of the plots. It is there to help you find key holders when you are on site

Shed keyholder Plot(s)
Jonathan Clark77 & 86
Bob Crabtree11 & 42w
Tony Hollander69 & 68w & 83e
Philip James33e
Chris Jarvis88 & 89
Neil MacLennan117e & 82w
Meg Movshon109
Vibeke Mannion34 & 35
Rob Watson116W &. 119E
Michael Wheale64e & 65e
Picture from allotment library
Mirabelles by Ian Salisbury

Click on the diagram below to see a larger schematic of the numbering scheme of the allotments. It might help you find one of the key-holders.

Schematic of the Allotments, prepared by John Porter.